Helm, Lautzenheiser, Bolenbaugh share MOP honors

Damian Helm led all scorers with 20 points in Saturday’s D-IV state final game. Helm was one of three Crestview Knights to share the Most Outstanding Player award. (Times Bulletin/Brian Bassett)

By John Parent
Times Bulletin Sports Editor
sports@timesbulletin.com
COLUMBUS —The Division IV Player of the Year was split four ways, with Crestview senior Damian Helm getting a part of that honor. After the Knights turned nin a total team performance in their 71-44 state championship victory over Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, it should have been no surprise that Helm would share another award.
This time, however, it was the final four Most Outstanding Player award, and he was sharing it with a pair of teammates, Connor Lautzenheiser and Tyson Bolenbaugh.
Lautzenheiser struggled through a 2-for-8 shooting night during Thursday night’s state semi-final game for Crestview. On Saturday afternoon, however, Lautzenheiser came out firing, drilling a long jumper to start the game, and adding a 3-pointer moments later, on his way to an 11-point effort. Lautzenheiser added a team-high six assists on Saturday.
Helm, who scored all 10 of his points in the semi-finals from the free throw line, poured in 20 points on Saturday, scoring 13 in the second half.

The most consistent of the Crestview performers over the weekend was Bolenbaugh. The 6-foot-5 senior center dominated the second half versus Tri-Village, finishing that game with 15 points and eight rebounds, then poured in 18 points with eight more boards against Aquinas.
Joining the three Knights on the all-tournament team were David Dennis, Jr, who scored 12 points for Canal Winchester Harvest Prep in its semi-final loss to Aquinas, a pair of Tri-Village Patriots in cousins Tyler and Damion Cook, who combined for 36 points and 17 rebounds versis Crestview, and Anthony Moeglin of Aquinas, who finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds in two games in Columbus.
Crestview’s Preston Zaleski scored 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting in his two contests, while senior Cam Etzler had 18 points in Columbus to go with eight steals.